Dark One Rising(17)

Kevaan looked scared. “Melenthia, you cannot leave. I won’t let you roam around the kingdom alone and unprotected. It’s too dangerous for you, no matter what I’ve taught you. In the fighting arena with armed men of father’s own guard is one thing; out there it’s totally different.”

“I can handle myself, Kevaan, you know that better than anyone. I would be much safer out there than I would be under Fallon’s roof. The people love and respect me. They will protect me.”

“If they feel threatened, they would sell their own mother, you know that, Mel. They don’t want trouble, and harboring you would bring them more trouble than they could handle. Besides, Fallon will never just walk away. He will look for you, and, if I know him, he’ll never stop until he has found you. I don’t know what marrying you will gain him, but we need to find out.”

“You need to find out, Kevaan. I need to run.”

“No. I shudder to think what he might do to the people who try to help you. I shudder even more to think what will happen after he catches you. His anger just might get you killed.”

“I won’t stay here and be given over to that barbarian. I won’t allow myself to be a slave, or worse. If you hadn’t stopped him that night, I know he would’ve forced himself on me already. I said I would leave, and I will. You won’t stop me.”

“Please, Mel, just wait until I try and think of something. He won’t be here for three days. Promise me you’ll wait to hear from me before you do something rash.”

“I don’t know if I can do that, Kevaan. I don’t think there is anything you can do this time. His mind is made up, whether from his own freewill, or coercion. The deal has been made.”

“Melenthia, please, if you love me at all, promise me you’ll wait for me.”

She stared at him, his eyes pleading with her, his brow furrowed in fright. She knew that she would have to leave, but she knew she should give him some time to try. She owed him that much. She was no longer angry with him; she was sad. Sad that this might just be the last day she ever saw him. Sad that today might be the last day they were family.

“Okay, Kevaan, you win. I’ll wait a bit for you to try and help, but I fear you will fail.”

“I only ask that you wait to hear from me. Don’t leave this room. I will instruct the servants to bring your supper to you. I will tell father you don’t want to be disturbed. But please, Mel, just stay put until I come for you. Promise?”

“I promise.”

“It’ll be alright. I swear on my life it will.”

He kissed her cheek and left her alone in the darkening room. Night was coming and soon it would be too dark to see anything. She didn’t bother to light the candles or start a fire in the hearth. The blackness fit her mood. She would open the door for the servants when they brought her supper, but she would stay locked away until she heard from her brother. She was sure that he wouldn’t be able to save her this time, and she would be forced to leave. The thought saddened her, and scared her a bit, too. She was not afraid of what was out there. She was more afraid of losing the only people in the world she loved. But the alternative, marrying a monster like Fallon, scared her more. She knew the night would drag by, for she would never be able to sleep. She would just wile away the time until she knew whether she would run away or be saved by her knight in shining armor, her brother, who she knew really did love her. She didn’t think there was a chance, but she prayed she was wrong.





CHAPTER 5


Just inside the border of the Dark Woods, underneath a hooded heavy woolen cloak, Alekzand’r Kenyon Morgan waited for his companion and calmed his horse who was more fidgety than normal today. His side of the kingdom was finally seeing signs of spring, but this side, the raw winter went on. The horse’s breath could be seen in the raw bitterness of the cold, and he suddenly longed for the warmth of a fire and a tankard of spiced ale. But that would have to wait. There was business to attend to first. He flexed his fingers to try and work out the frozen joints. Despite the protective leather of his thick gloves, the cold air still caused the fingers of his hands to get stiff after so many hours in the saddle, and his back and neck were getting sore as well. Spring seemed to be coming later and later every year here. It wasn’t normal, and it made him irritable. Too many nights sleeping under the stars in the bitter cold, not enough warmth to perk up his soul.

There was something dark and disturbing hanging over this side of the kingdom, but he’d be damned if he knew what it was. He spent too much time riding the countryside not to notice the change. The people were more nervous these days, rather jumpy when it came to strangers in their villages. They went to market to do their trading, but rarely stayed out to enjoy the festivities that always followed a day of bartering. The artisans and entertainers complained of light purses due to the anxiousness and tight fisted patrons. He couldn’t figure out what people were so afraid of, but he feared something wicked was blowing in the wind.